John H. Vandenberg
Born: 18 December 1904
Called as Presiding Bishop: 30 September 1961
Called as Assistant to the Twelve: 6 April 1972
Called to First Quorum of the Seventy: 1 October 1976
Became Emeritus General Authority: 30 September 1978
Died: 3 June 1992
Called as Presiding Bishop: 30 September 1961
Called as Assistant to the Twelve: 6 April 1972
Called to First Quorum of the Seventy: 1 October 1976
Became Emeritus General Authority: 30 September 1978
Died: 3 June 1992
Talks on Church WebsiteApr 1971 - My Brother's Keeper
Oct 1971 - "Turn Heavenward Our Eyes" Apr 1972 - Whence Cometh Our Peace? Oct 1972 - Becoming a Somebody Apr 1973 - The Agency of Man Apr 1974 - Touchstone of Truth Oct 1974 - Truth Will Emerge Victorious Oct 1975 - To Cleanse Our Souls Apr 1976 - You Are Your Greatest Treasure Apr 1978 - "What Is Truth?" Image source: Improvement Era, December 1961
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Image source: Improvement Era, November 1967
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Biographical Articles
Improvement Era, December 1961, John H. Vandenberg, Presiding Bishop
Improvement Era, November 1967, John H. Vandenberg Presiding Bishop
Ensign, July 1972, Elder John H. Vandenberg
Ensign, August 1992, Elder John H. Vandenberg Eulogized
Improvement Era, November 1967, John H. Vandenberg Presiding Bishop
Ensign, July 1972, Elder John H. Vandenberg
Ensign, August 1992, Elder John H. Vandenberg Eulogized
Zobell, Albert L., Jr. "John H. Vandenberg, Presiding Bishop." Improvement Era. December 1961. pg. 911-912.
JOHN H. VANDENBERG PRESIDING BISHOP ALBERT L. ZOBELL, JR. RESEARCH EDITOR A new Presiding Bishopric was sustained at the 131st semiannual general conference, September 30, 1961. Elder John Henry Vandenberg became the ninth Presiding Bishop to hold that position in this dispensation. Bishop Vandenberg has served as vice chairman of the Church building committee since 1955. There his responsibilities have placed him in charge of finances and clerical work. He has learned of the testimonies and the devotion of the Saints in all parts of the Church, as they have built chapels and other Church buildings under the direction of the far-flung Church building committee program. He was born in Ogden, Utah, December 18, 1904, the son of Dirk and Maria Alkema Vandenberg. He grew to manhood there, being active in the Church while attending elementary and high school. He was then called to the Netherlands Mission, serving from February 1926 to July 1928; from April 1927 to the end of his mission, he was mission secretary under President John P. Lillywhite. Beginning in April 1939 he served in the presidency of an elders' quorum in the Mount Ogden Stake, then for a year he was a member of the Melchizedek Priesthood committee of that stake. His employment took him to Denver where he was called on a stake mission, serving as mission president from June 22, 1941 to June 28, 1942. During this time he was senior president of the 309th quorum of seventy, and on June 28, 1942 he was sustained as the first counselor in the presidency of the Denver Stake. At present he is a partner in the Audio Visual Center at Denver. Since coming to Salt Lake City, he was sustained, in February 1959, second counselor in the Ensign Stake presidency, and was released from that position on October 29, 1961. Bishop Vandenberg married Rena Stok of Ogden, in the Salt Lake Temple June 18, 1930. The couple have two married daughters. President David O. McKay ordained him a bishop and set him apart as Presiding Bishop of the Church October 6, 1961. |
Bishop John H. Vandenberg
Pictured at right is Sister Vandenberg, Inaccessibility of family members prevented family picture.
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"John H. Vandenberg Presiding Bishop." Improvement Era. November 1967. pg. 61.
JOHN H. VANDENBERG Presiding Bishop In the late nineteenth century a band of devout immigrants from the Netherlands, converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, boarded a ship at Rotterdam to begin their journey to far-off Salt Lake Valley. Aboard the ship was handsome young Dirk Vandenberg, who was soon attracted to Maria Alkema. Their romance blossomed, and after they arrived in Utah, they were married in the Salt Lake Endowment House. From this union came six children, including a son, John Henry, born December 18, 1904, who was to become the ninth Presiding Bishop of the Church in this dispensation. The Vandenbergs settled in Ogden, and Bishop Vandenberg later declared that perhaps the thing that influenced him most and set the pattern for his whole life was the example of love and service set by his parents. He decided early that accounting would be his life's work. He studied at Weber Academy and, through correspondence courses and additional study at night school, became proficient in business and finance. In 1925 he was called to serve a mission in the Netherlands. While there he served as mission secretary, and it was in the mission home in Rotterdam that he met a lovely Netherlands girl, Ariena Stok. She later emigrated to Utah, and the couple were married in the Salt Lake Temple June 18, 1930. They now have two daughters. Returning to Ogden, Bishop Vandenberg became associated with a livestock firm at the Ogden Union Stockyards. In 1940 he was transferred to Denver, where his interests also included textiles and ranching. He entered the audiovisual business in 1950. In 1955, he became vice chairman of the Church Building Committee, in charge of finances. Throughout his life Bishop Vandenberg has been completely devoted to the Church, serving willingly in every position to which he has been called—ward choir director, elders quorum counselor, seventies quorum president, stake mission president. He was first counselor in the Denver Stake presidency and then second counselor in the Ensign Stake presidency, a position he held when, on September 30, 1961, he was sustained as Presiding Bishop. As Presiding Bishop, he is holder of the keys of presidency over the Aaronic Priesthood. Asked what advice he would give to young boys today, he replied, "Live close to your parents and heed their counsel." Bishop John Vandenberg knows whereof he speaks, for remembering and following through the years the wise counsel and example of his immigrant parents has been one of the strongest motivating forces in his own life. |